Interesting post. I'm certainly interested - though like previously mentioned, I'm wondering how Mazda has managed to control the emissions compared to standard gas engines. As the type slides towards diesel, so would the emissions to an extent...

tankinbeans wrote:I'm very happy with my non-TDI mpg. Of course it's been a bit shiite since winter, but during warmer weather I generally run around 37-39 combined.

Even now, I'm around 33-35 dipping a little lower during coldsnaps.

sounds like you got the right car. i was averaging around 31 mpg in the warmer months, and am more like 29-30 these days. i have a habit of making the little turbo spool though. most of my commute is 45-55mph (=50-60ish IRL) but there is sometimes traffic or bad drivers, and the first or last 5-10 minutes of my commute (depending on which way i'm going and time of day/night) can be trafficky.

tankinbeans wrote:I'm very happy with my non-TDI mpg. Of course it's been a bit shiite since winter, but during warmer weather I generally run around 37-39 combined.

Even now, I'm around 33-35 dipping a little lower during coldsnaps.

sounds like you got the right car. i was averaging around 31 mpg in the warmer months, and am more like 29-30 these days. i have a habit of making the little turbo spool though. most of my commute is 45-55mph (=50-60ish IRL) but there is sometimes traffic or bad drivers, and the first or last 5-10 minutes of my commute (depending on which way i'm going and time of day/night) can be trafficky.

That's just about where I'm at in my 6 speed manual 2.0 TSI. 31-32 mpg with less idling, warmer climates, and about 28-29 mpg in the winter months. I did notice that I dropped to 26-27ish on a stretch and checked my air pressure. All around my tires like 6 PSI evenly from the warm to cold... I actually got quite used to how the car rode at 32 PSI as opposed to 38 PSI. Maybe placebo, maybe not. I'm still really pleased with the real world fuel economy with this car though. I don't baby it, I don't really beat it, but I do wind out gears from time to time.

IMBoring25 wrote:I don't know...Back when my boss was trying to re-activate our local SAE chapter we did a meet at the local Nissan dealer to look at the then-new Leaf and got to drive them. They're peppy and the low CG helps handling some. Further, if you enjoy hypermiling, there's the "game" aspect of it. Alas, the non-temperature-controlled battery pack on them means they don't do well in temperature extremes.

that means they will have issues in most of the US of A, if run year round at least.

Eye wuss sprised too here the otter day that Generous Motors wuss planning to sell the Bolt electric car all across the USA, not JUST in areas with worm climates.

OH, CANADA TWO! It seams Ontario will offer a large rebate on the Chevy Bolt, but mebbe knot the otter provinces. Sails rates will prolly trend to follow the rebate monies.

....,but some owners are suing Ford about overheating trannies and rear ends!

THAT SHELBY IS HOT… TOO HOT - Autoline DailyA small group of owners are suing Ford saying the Mustang Shelby GT350 is not as “Track Ready” as Ford says it is. They say their transmissions and differentials overheated while at the track, forcing the car into “limp mode” to prevent damage. These owners have the Technology package, which along with the base GT350, did not come with the optional Track Package’s transmission and differential coolers. They claim Ford knew there was a problem because the coolers are now standard on all models.

....and the plot sickens! Seems that there was an option package that would have averted overheating of the transmissions and differentials, but the owners suing Ford did NOT check that box when ordering their cars. Whose fault is that?

Spy shots of the Shelby GT500 show massive wing and wheel arch ventsEarly reports indicate the halo Mustang will have a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with a cross-plane crank making a total output of about 750 hp.

Turbot Ain't Just a Fish!THE TURBOCHARGER TAKE OVER = from Autoline DailyTurbochargers are taking over engines in the U.S. The surge in popularity began in 2011, when turbo engines were installed in a record high, 10.7% of light vehicles. In 2016, that number grew significantly to 24.1%. And now, just through March of this year, 27.6% of engines built were turbocharged. Their newfound popularity is thanks chiefly to rapidly shrinking engines. And as engines continue to drop cylinders and displacement gets even smaller, we can expect to see more turbos.

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK PRICING - from Autoline DailyIf someone wants to get their hands on a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a Hellcat engine stuffed under the hood, it’s going to cost them $87,000, including destination charges. That’s about $19,000 more than a SRT Grand Cherokee and as some are making a big deal out of, $1,000 more than a Demon. But it’s really not that big of a difference between what it costs to go from a SRT Charger or Challenger to a Hellcat. It’s a $14,000 difference from a SRT Challenger to a Challenger Hellcat and a $16,500 gap for the Charger. What this really shows is that FCA is able to charge a boatload of cash for an engine people just can’t seem to get enough of.

RAM HEAVY-DUTY SETS TORQUE RECORD - from Autoline DailyPick-up truck makers go back and forth, trading off who has the most power and towing capacity and Ram just moved itself back to the top of a few lists. The 2018 Ram Heavy Duty with a 6.7L Cummins diesel now has 930 lb-ft of torque, the highest rating ever for a pick-up. We feel it’s just a matter of time before someone cracks 1,000 lb-ft mark. With a newly engineered trailer hitch, the truck also has the heaviest fifth-wheel trailer towing capacity of 30,000-pounds. That will save some customers with large trailers from having to move up to a Class 4 or 5 truck. The new 2018 Ram Heavy Duty will be available this monthhttp://media.fcanorthamerica.com/newsre ... 8481&mid=1

And still have capacity leftover for a spare Ram 3500 if the camper is empty, or a base model Ram 1500 if the camper is loaded to its GVWR with all your silverware/luggage/bikes/gear and tanks full of fresh/grey/black water.

Except, of course, the deckover isn't going to be long enough for the fiver and the spare truck, and the rig would be too tall...but in states allowing tandem towing for average schmoes you could tow the spare Ram 3500 behind the camper on a lightweight trailer, on a dolly, or 4-down (driveshaft disconnected or transfer case in neutral or manual transmission in neutral) behind the camper, even if the camper is full.